Robin Rosemond/Turnagain Times
The Spirit Of New Orleans! Sazerac, the strangely delicious cocktail.
By Robin Rosemond
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Hello Readers! I’m working on Fiddler On The Roof as a Stage Carpenter for the run of the show. It’s been fun putting the set together and rehearsing cues this week of pre-production. The cast and crew are enjoying their stay in Anchorage and rave about Club Paris and Darwin’s Theory. You can’t blame them. ‘If I were a rich man’, is one of the many beautiful songs from Fiddler On The Roof. Buy your tickets now. It will be at The Atwood Theatre Oct. 21 – 27.
Alaska Federation of Natives/AFN is coming to Anchorage Oct. 17 – 22. It’s being held at the Dena’ina Center in downtown Anchorage and is something you all should check out. When the tribes meet it’s always a cultural highlight.
Speaking of a cultural highlight, Alaska Distillery has announced the arrival of an Alaska Outlaw Whiskey. They’ve named it after Alaska’s most notorious outlaw, Soapy Smith who’s featured on the bottle. Soapy Smith was a life long hustler and he ended his wily ways in Alaska. On July 8, 1898, Soapy’s last words were “My God, don’t shoot!” Soapy died from a bullet to the heart. He also received a bullet in his left leg and a severe wound on the left arm by the elbow. Soapy Smith was buried several yards outside Skagway cemetery. Every year on July 8th, wakes are held around the United States in Soapy’s honor. His grave and saloon are on most tour itineraries of Skagway.
Alaska Outlaw Whiskey is a small batch artisan whiskey that is crafted using traditional distilling techniques and then matured to perfection. Alaska Outlaw is a full-bodied whiskey that is incredibly smooth and finishes clean and crisp. Ask for Alaska Outlaw at your local tavern or liquor store. For sales in Alaska, please contact K&L Distributors for ordering information. Outside of Alaska; contact Toby at Alaska Distillery on the web.
The Big Bear country rock collective Romany Rye is playing at the Tap Root Oct. 21 and 22. Be there! Tap Root, 3300 Spenard Road. For more information: 345-0282.
My culinary addition to Out Of The Town this week is all about Sazerac, a delightful cocktail from New Orleans. It all began for the Sazerac cocktail in the early 1800’s when Antoine Amedee Peychaud mixed Cognac with his Peychaud bitters. In 1859, the drink was the signature drink of the Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans, where it received its name. The exact reason for the substitution of rye whiskey for the Cognac is unclear, but the whiskey base is used today. The cocktail originally used absinthe, which is making a huge comeback, but is difficult to find and can be substituted with Herbsaint, Pernod or Absente. You can substitute Outlaw Whiskey for the following ingredients.
Sazerac Cocktail
- 3 oz rye whiskey
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- Peychaud bitters to taste
- Absinthe or absinthe substitute
- Lemon twist for garnish
Preparation:
Chill an old-fashioned glass by filling it with ice and letting it sit while preparing the rest of the drink.
In a separate mixing glass, muddle the simple syrup and Peychaud bitters together.
Add the rye whiskey and ice to the bitters mixture and stir.
Discard the ice in the chilled glass and rinse it with absinthe (or substitute) by pouring a small amount into the glass, swirling it around and discarding the liquid.
Strain the whiskey mixture from the mixing glass into the old fashioned glass.
Garnish it with a lemon twist. Traditionalists will say that the lemon twist should be squeezed over the drink to release its essences but you can also use it as a garnish.
Write to me: rosebud61155@mac.com or check out my blog: www.rosemondpost.com.
